Sylvia Drake and Charity Bryant
Sylvia Drake (1784-1868) and Charity Bryant (1805-1868) were two middle class women of the19th century. Bryant and Drake lived in Vermont in the early and mid 1800'sworking, studing, writing and building a friendship. They wrote many lettersand maintained intense correspondence over many years. Bryant and Drake also compiled an extensive poem collection, which consisted mainly of theirown original works, but included various literature from other poets andwriters. Drake and Bryant are an ideal example of the change in women'svalues, ideals and lifestyles during the beginning and middle of the 19th century. Their independent work, studies, and friendship epitomizes theirgrowing independence of the female gender on the whole. Drake and Bryant ran a tailor shop in Weybridge, Vt. Charity's nephew, William Cullen Bryant once wrote about them, "I would tell you how, in their youthful days, they took each other as companions for life, and how this union, no less sacred than the tie of marriage, has subsisted in uninterrupted harmony, for more than 40 years. They shared a 'common pillow' and 'purse.' They were deeply involved in the community and took in young girls as apprentices to teach them how to be seamstresses." They were kind, respectful women who took advantage of opportunities and enjoyed teaching and learning a great deal. The Poems (included below) are a small example of some of their independence, freedom, and thoughts which they expressed over the decades of their friendship. Enjoy.